Case Study in Review Integrity: Undisclosed Conflict of Interest

A series to raise awareness and inspire creative problem solving of the challenges in maintaining integrity in peer review Sometimes it takes detective work to unearth attempts to undermine the integrity of peer review.   Take the case of Dr. Smith, one of the reviewers on a study section in the Center for Scientific Review.  The scientific review officer (SRO) would like Dr. Smith to review an application with Dr. Jones as principal investigator (PI).  In checking for potential conflicts of interest (COI), the SRO cast a wider net and found something troubling.  Dr. Smith, one of the reviewers currently set to review the application listing Dr. Jones’ as PI, had been listed as one of the key personnel on an application with Dr. Jones as PI that was under review in another, recent study section. It was obvious Dr. Smith had a clear COI as a reviewer for the application with Dr. Jones as PI.  The COI instructions for reviewers state that a reviewer may not review certain applications and must leave the room when the reviewer, within the past three years, has been a collaborator or has had any other professional relationship with any person on the application who has a major role. In this case, Dr. Smith, who is being considered as a reviewer for the application, is a professional associate of Dr. Jones, the PI on the application.  However, Dr. Smith had not declared a conflict with that application. The SRO immediately notifie...
Source: NIH Extramural Nexus - Category: Research Authors: Tags: blog Open Mike conflict of interest conflict of interest in peer review podcast Source Type: funding